A life cycle assessment of the cotton textile chain

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a systematic evaluation of the potential environmental impact and resource utilization of a product from raw material through disposal. Underlying the LCA is the Life Cycle Inventory or LCI, a quantification of energy and material inputs and environmental release or emissions data associated with product creation and use. The primary purpose of this project was to provide robust and up-to-date LCI data for global cotton fibre production and textile manufacturing so that cotton is accurately represented in LCAs. A secondary objective was to use the LCI data to conduct a cradle-to-grave LCA of a hypothetical knit shirt and woven pant to better understand all aspects of the environmental impact of cotton textiles so the cotton industry can target research and resources to reduce future impacts.